Lead can be found in all parts of our environment – the air, the soil, the water, and even inside our homes. Much of our exposure comes from human activities including the use of fossil fuels including past use of leaded gasoline, some types of industrial facilities and past use of lead-based paint in homes.
Where does lead come from naturally?
Lead is found in nature, rarely in pure form but in ores with other metals — the most abundant one in the Earth's crust being galena (PbS). Natural formation of lead occurs by radioactive decay of uranium and thorium through radon (222Rn).
What is lead made from?
Lead (element #82, symbol Pb) is a very soft, blue-gray, metallic element. It is primarily produced from the mineral galena. It has been used since antiquity. Water pipes in ancient Rome, some of which still carry water, were made of lead.
